Business community jittery over government crisis
(CNS): Despite reassurances from former deputy premier André Ebanks and Governor Jane Owen that the government is still functioning as normal after three Cabinet ministers and a parliamentary secretary resigned from the UPM government on Thursday morning, the business community has reacted with concern. The Chamber of Commerce said the resignations amounted to a “seismic political shift”, and the reasons they gave for their departure raised “grave concerns”.
The resigning members said their former UPM colleagues were putting “self-interest above the country’s interest”, which Chamber President Joanne Lawson said had implications for business stability and international partnerships.
“This moment demands clear and steadfast leadership. As our country faces critical decisions on matters such as funding major projects, the upcoming referendum, and sustaining our international reputation, stability is paramount,” Lawson said in a statement posted on the Chamber’s website. “The business community and our international partners are watching closely, and we cannot afford to let uncertainty damage confidence in the Cayman Islands.”
The Chamber warned that the government’s instability could impact local businesses immediately and that many are delaying or reconsidering investment decisions until there is clarity on governance. Lawson noted that this period of uncertainty “poses risks for our entire community, threatening to slow progress on crucial issues and diminish the confidence of local and international stakeholders alike”.
The MPs who resigned described a deterioration in “due process” and increased risks of “erroneous decision-making and reputational damage”. In light of this, the Chamber wants to see swift action to restore confidence in the government, protect the economy, and maintain a stable environment for business.
“We cannot afford a period of prolonged uncertainty,” Lawson stated. “The Chamber will continue to support the business community and push for a government that prioritises the well-being and prosperity of all Caymanians.”
During the press briefing this morning, Ebanks, who was ther financial services minister before his resignation, said this issue was a matter of disagreement on “principle and policy” among the executive and it in no way impacted the country’s business, including the offshore services sector. He stressed that the administrative arm of government was functioning as normal.
The governor said she was in discussions with the premier and would provide a further update for the public on the situation as soon as possible. “In the meantime, our public service continues to discharge their duties to ensure continuity of service to the public,” she added.
Ebanks and his colleagues said that poor governance, an area of the governor’s responsibility, was a major factor in their decision to resign. CNS has asked her office for a comment about the allegations that MPs are acting in their own interest and not that of the country. We are awaiting a response.
Ebanks also accused his former UPM colleagues of being dysfunctional and disorganised, with a lack of professionalism, erroneous decision-making, and a lack of equitable transparency. he said there had been an erosion of due process, and there was an atmosphere in caucus that undermined objective analysis and respectful exchanges of views, as well as unchecked disrespect, particularly towards women.
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Dear Chamber of Commerce,
Sure, now you have “grave concerns” when it involves an instability that threatens YOUR pocketbooks. Welcome to our world. This is the kind of fears and worry we face every day. We used to think that you were working for us, taking care of our interests. Most of us are now collateral damage. Enjoy being afraid of the future. Maybe you will learn something from it.
Expats in the business community don’t elect the moronic cretins who exercise political power in Cayman: only Caymanians are allowed to vote and stand for office.
It’s Caymanians’ fault.
No one else’s.
Which includes expats that now have and have had status. Ask the ones you know, who they voted for or if they even voted at all?
At the end of the day, we have had a “do nothing” government for the last almost 4 years, because Wayne had an axe to grind with the Progressives. If there is any finger to be pointed, it’s at him and those who followed him in forming a sham government with promises of Cabinet positions. This includes a certain MP who told his constituents on the campaign trail, to their faces, that he would work with Progressives in a government. Those constituents will not forget. It’s pretty rich now to talk about “self interests vs country interests” which is exactly what all of them did to reach where they are. Every single one who helped form this mess of a government in 2021 – a group of people with no common ground, no manifesto to hold them accountable – has some measure of responsibility so to the mess we are dealing with today, Wayne at the head of the pack. A Cabinet (and its iterations) that cannot agree on anything and as such this country has stagnated for nearly four years. Disgusting.
Cayman voted for 19 MPs, but they did not vote for the government forced upon them (and all of its twisted variants) for the last 3.5 years.
We need a fresh and decisive election, and clear, honest, and accountable statements from those who run as to who they will work with past the vote, so we know exactly who and what we are voting for, both as an MP and as a government.
What we need is a second party. Then the parties will adjust themselves according to what it takes to win. Over a couple cycles government will fall more in line with public sentiment.
what we really need is to expunge the party system, and force — kicking and screaming if necessary — the elected representatives to work together for the good of all Caymanians and its business model.
This would be my first executive order if I were King for a day.
I lost all faith in the Chamber when they fast-tracked Joanne to the position of President, without going through the same process all previous Presidents had to. Nothing but another Dart mouthpiece now.
Ahhh, the Chamber, shill in chief of the business community. The same community amongst which we have people who epitomise greed, daylight robbery and giving back to the bent over consumers. Support Cayman businesses it preaches but the Chamber does nothing to protect consumers from rogue merchants and price gouging. Ahh yes, seems the President is echoing it’s members as they fear a change in wind direction might hurt their bottom line.
@ 10:24 am, I agree with your comment 100%.
As for the Chamber, they lost their usefulness many, many years ago. They are just all talk.
Cayman’s business and developer community celebrates the prospect of having all their plans and dreams come true, even if it’s by way of a short-lived rubber stamping corrupt regime. Once again, this is a very dangerous moment.
too little too late from coc….they have been silent far too long. if they had sense they would call for direct rule for 2 years
Here we go again with direct rule. GO BACK HOME….
Mr or Ms “direct rule”.
Please stop. Perhaps it’s obvious to everyone except you that if the UK had to implement direct rule it would do more to damage the reputation of this country than even the most sketchy politicians ever could.
BEWARE: in Cayman, “clear and steadfast” in some minds, also translates into expedited approvals of stewardship calamities, dredging, major unvetted project deals, and garbage burning contracts without economic or environmental protections, for the people. We need Standards in Public Life and the Nolan Principles to be real constructs with teeth.
Let us be clear: the business community only wants money. Work permits, building permits, real estate sales, mutual fund licenses, etc. They do not give a flying duck about our teenagers not getting the right education, our housing crisis, health care or immigration challenges.
The professional educated stakeholders also live here, and have kids. This is their home too.
If you are not Caymanian you have no say. You knew this before you relocated to Cayman. Similar to situation in Dubai, Doha, etc which attracts more talent than Cayman.
2:00, Obviously you are not aware that Qatar (Doha) and the United Arab Emirates (Dubai) are not democracies.
They are ruled by Royal families.
Let’s be clear – if the government keeps going the way it is, the entire economy is going in the toilet and there won’t be enough government revenue – mainly provided by the same business community that you mock – to provide civil servants with an income, road improvements, healthcare for the uninsured, government pensions, education, law and order, fire and emergency services, customs and border protection…..you think it’s bad now with a $ billion budget – just see what happens if coercive revenue from the business sector falls by a few hundred million. No magic money trees bobo.
“Let’s be clear – if the government keeps going the way it is, the entire economy is going in the toilet and there won’t be enough government revenue”.
By toilet do you mean DART’s back pocket? Similar exercises have been performed by them in other countries before that piece of driftwood arrived on our shores.
@Eh! Must be the money! – You sound like another loser whinner. No one is taking anything away from caymanians. All a caymanian needs is the will to get educated and work and he/she is at the front of the line in the cayman islands. Plain and simple. Stop spreading your BS hate against those that chose to work hard to move ahead in life.
To Anonymous says 01/11/2024 at 10:36am: We are so uneducated, yet here you are. I’m sure only your altruistic nature attracted you here. Yeah, right!
Just because you personally know a few exceptional Caymanians does not mean even the majority of them are going to be able to realise their potential. Most won’t, and they could be somewhere else, sadly.
I am jittery with the Julianna as Premier. Quicker we can change this the better for the country.
Quicker the better!
Slim pickings.
Just wait till it’s Kenny 🥴
and that thong, thong, thong, thong thong.
Anyone who has their eyes wide open knows when cayman started a downward slide. It begins and ends with a four letter word. You let the vampire in and he will suck the life out of you. Greed rules. Too many people have been bought. God have mercy on the Cayman Islands.
Chamber please stop this fear mongering. We should not have inefficient leadership jut because Chamber cries out loud.
Some members of the Chamber unfortunately facilitated and encouraged this.
Unbridled growth, cheap labor, low regulation, unscrupulous employment practices, exclusion of Caymanians, freedom in hiring choices, fronting, immigration frauds, all too frequently demanded by some in the Chamber with little care for the inevitable consequences.
The consequences are now climbing over the gates.
…as the Civil Service Assn giggles in the corner.
Governor has been brainwashed by Juliana.
Progressives will want to get in to help Juliana cover up the Landfill Deal they negotiated with Dart.
And give away more concessions.
Juju and JonJons new Dart deal
Negotiated by Eric Bush
Say what you want about Eric, at least he gets the job done right. His level of know-how is really something you cannot replace.
Ah yes, his vast knowledge of CCTV has really borne fruit for us, for example.
His knowledge of immigration law has also been a tremendous help. It at least equals his contributions to the efficient detection of crime.
Must be Eric “Slims” From Old Man Bay.
All that Deputy Governor wanna-be one knows is how to suk up and bully.
..Good political creds I guess
This governor is weak and afraid of JOCC but we need an election now before these dim-whits get us further into the hole. Look what PPM did with the last minute sweetheart dump deal with their buddy Dart. Bush and the tourism minister already say they want the port so next they will sign a deal that will cost us more money.OUT WITH THEM ASAP!
The governor will ask O’Connor-Connolly what she wants to do and we all know the answer – “Let me stay in power, everything will be alright”. Please we need an election right now.
To reshuffle the same career kleptocrats again? There needs to be electoral reforms and restored governance and accountability. JOCC’s Cabinet indemnity needs to be quashed by the Governor/FCO. SIPL and Nolan Principles need to immediately disqualify half of Parliament, with lifetime bans, possibly some serious indictments and trials.
Reshuffling this loaded deck won’t fix anything.
don’t worry Mckeeva to the rescue again. teflon don always in the middle. cant live with him, cant live without him. absolutely crazy town